Wole Adejumo
In our days as juniors in Ibadan Boys’ High School, Oke Bola, Ibadan, not only was Mr. Akinbode one of the most vocal teachers, his dexterous use of the cane was unsurpassed. He flogged errant students with gusto. His turn to conduct the assembly was a time many of us never looked forward to. His unmistakable accent notwithstanding, he always wanted to remind us that he was in control and his usual catchphrases then included “order is order, whether genuine or counterfeit” and “we are not here to sue but to command”.
Mr. Akinbode’s words continued to ring in my ears till the day I realized that obeying orders could put one in a precarious situation; and sometimes drag innocent people into the fray too. On a day repainted metal lockers were left in the sun to dry during our first year, I walked into a near-empty class and saw my friend, Tokunbo Sanyaolu crying in a corner. He sat on one of the few tables in the class so I walked up to ask him what the problem was. He whispered to me that some seniors wanted to extort him and that I should go to Form 5C to inform Senior Kunle Ogundipe, the Senior Prefect. I didn’t notice that we were not alone until I heard a voice demanding to know what he was telling me. It was the captain of the school’s football team! One of the strongest boys the school could boast of at that time. That was when I sensed trouble. He was sitting right at the door while the back door of the class was manned by another senior. “Nothing”, I stammered in response to his question. He ordered the person at the door to slap me from that corner to where he sat. He however had a change of mind before the instruction was carried out. I was then ordered to sit beside Tokunbo. We were grounded for what seemed like hours. Unknown to me, the money they wanted to collect belonged to Lekan who was a year ahead of us. When Lekan came for his money and saw the situation, he collected it and personally handed it to the seniors, prostrating himself before them immediately after.
Akin to that nerve-wracking experience, many of the events that rocked Nigeria in 2025 bordered on orders and the refusal to back down. One that sparked heated debates was the encounter of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesome Wike with an officer of the Nigerian Navy when the former went to inspect a property. While the young military officer stood his ground and denied the Minister access into the property, some felt he was simply doing his job while another school of thought held that he was obeying unlawful orders.
The incident among other things raised awareness on some issues including military superiority over civilians, existence of unlawful orders and the fact that when someone disliked by Nigerians gets wronged, the victim hardly ever gets sympathy. The viral video of the incident also went a long way in showing that even average Nigerians working with “big men” know their limits. One of the Minister’s security aides was heard telling the soldiers in Hausa language that it was better not to get involved in the fight of big men. His reason was simple; they could resolve their differences anytime, so why fight for them? The smart aides were quick to remind themselves that the proverbial “omorogun” (turning stick) usually gets its head inside hot water because of its inability to decline tasks.
That incident was not the first open display of nonconformity in the year as Nigeria entered 2025 with a form of defiance, having transited from “No gree for anybody” which was unofficially adopted as the motto for 2024. The New Year came with “Dey for who dey for you” as the watchword. The ghost of the previous year’s slogan somehow managed to stay alive, and so did the defiance that came with it.
For the better part of 2025, the different terrorist groups troubling the country continued their onslaught and blood continued to flow, albeit needlessly. Men of the Nigerian Armed Forces in obedience of order continue to lay down their lives in defence of the country’s borders and national integrity. It eventually led to the designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the President of the United States over what he termed “persecution of Christians”. Who would blame him? In January, attacks in Damboa and Dumba in Borno State and Bwari left six soldiers, 42 civilians and 34 insurgents dead. And later in the year, Eruku Ekiti in Kwara State got in the news as worshippers were attacked, some were killed while others were abducted during a service that was being streamed live! President Trump soon followed his threat with coordinated strikes against terrorist enclaves in the North West on Christmas Eve.
The declaration of a State of Emergency and the subsequent suspension of democratic rule in Rivers State in March is also a vivid example of the extension of the 2024 slogan. The declaration was an offshoot of a disagreement between Governor Sim Fubara and his predecessor, as a result of which the state was held to a standstill for months.
The trend of refusals took a dramatic turn when in defiance of anything Nigerians have ever seen, foremost Fuji Musician and the Olori Omoba of Ijebuland, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal stood in front of a taxiing aircraft. There was also another airport brawl in which a lady’s bosom was bared by airline staff when she refused to disembark from the plane.
Yet another topic of discussion was the 100% increase in passport fees which some have deemed as the government’s ploy to reduce the rate of emigration. The increase is however not enough to deter the desperate ones who have overtly defied the economy and continue to ‘japa’ in different directions.
And in political circles, the crisis that bedeviled the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to defy competent description. After a convention in Ibadan, where some of the bigwigs were expelled, the meeting of the Party’s National Executive Committee nearly became a theater of war. Some top members were caught on video at both the giving and receiving end of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) quality slaps all because they stayed loyal and followed their principals to the Wadata House venue of the scheduled meeting in Abuja. Governor Seyi Makinde, who is the only Governor left in the PDP has also chosen to shake the table and call out his erstwhile friend and associate, Chief Nyesome Wike who he accused of “holding the party for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”. What seemed like a reprisal has also come from former Governor Ayo Fayose who audaciously alleged that the Oyo State Governor diverted funds meant for victims of an explosion that devastated a part of Ibadan in January, 2024.
One that Ijebu people will not stop talking about is the burial of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who, unlike his predecessors was buried in accordance with Islamic rites. The race to succeed Oba Adetona too has yielded a number of twists and turns with Ijebu’s Olori Omoba and Maiyegun of Yorubaland, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal’s declaration of interest in the vacant throne. His ambition however faced opposition from within as the Fusengbuwa Ruling Family from where he hoped to actualize the dream openly disowned him. Some of his fans who venerate him as the King of Fuji have since referred him to the lyrics of one of his songs about an individual who despite being installed as an Imam continued to aspire to become Seriki.
The unfortunate capture and subsequent execution of Brigadier General Musa Uba also generated outcry especially from those who felt his conversation with top military hierarchy was intercepted by terrorists. The one-star general and his men had been ambushed by insurgents but he escaped. It was on the verge of his rescue that he was caught by the insurgents who posted the video of his summary execution on the internet.
The treason trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which was a byproduct of long term defiance, came to a conclusion with the Leader getting a life sentence. But for the backlash that trailed the presidential pardon, Maryam Sanda who was convicted of killing her husband years ago would probably have become a free woman. The trolling received by the Government online and offline culminated in the prompt reversal of the pardon. And in spite of internal problems, Nigeria woke up to its big brother role by helping to foil the coup that nearly truncated Benin Republic’s democratic rule. Nigerians have however questioned the rationale behind their country’s intervention in neighbouring Benin’s affairs when their homeland has so much on its own plate.
The most commonly discussed topic around Nigeria presently is the new Tax Reform; almost every citizen is worried not just because of the taxes themselves but over what use the monies deducted from their pockets would be put.
Meanwhile, it is an open secret that Nigeria is approaching 2026 with a budget deficit of 23.85 trillion Naira and that to many is enough reason to worry. With the way things are going, the hitherto despised lyrics Taye Currency dished out at the Olubadan’s coronation seem to have become the adopted quick fix. For most situations now, Yoruba speaking Nigerians will say “were la fi nwo were” (madness is cured with madness).
Adejumo sent this piece from Ibadan
